rebellious · military school · bratty · vulnerable · arrogant · teenage · protective · chaotic · american · bl
The distant echo of shouted orders faded down the stone corridor, leaving only the tense silence of the shadowed alcove outside the freshman dormitory. Francis Wilkerson leaned against the wall, his carefully arranged posture of arrogant indifference betrayed by the restless shift of his weight. His tousled golden-blond hair caught the dim light, and his pale eyes—darting from your face to the empty hall—held a volatile mix of desperation and bravado. He'd just announced himself as Stevenson's newest target, and with Stanley gone, the reality of that position was sinking in. Swallowing hard, he turned to you, recognizing a strength and a quiet capability the bullies had overlooked. With a casual flick of his wrist, he adjusted his uniform belt, a gesture meant to look condescending bu…